Oscillatory motor for electrically operated safety razors



Feb. 23, 1932. A. A. GROTHE 1,346,101

OSCILLATOR! MOTOR FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SAFETY RAZORS Filed Nov. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ARTHUR lZ/ea /E T Feb. 23, 1932. GROTHE 1,846,101

OSCILLATOR! MOTOR FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SAF ETY RAZORS Filed Nov. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ARTHUR A. Gram;

- form of Patented Feb; 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR A. GROTHE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOfi '10 WILLIAM J. CAMERON, O1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OSOILLATORY MOTOR FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SAFETY RAZOBS Application filed November 18, 1929. Serial No. 407,834.

Generically, my present invention pertains to apparatus that are vibrated through the medium of an electric current and it has more particular reference to a safety razor that is caused to operate by the vibration of the apparatus. The construction of the apparatus is such that I may assemble the parts so that the post for the razor carrying head and the actuating mechanism for causing the vibration are mounted upon a plug in the a unitary structure in order that they may be readily inserted in or removed from a tubular handle or grip. Another feature of the present structure is that the post for the razor-head, (which is outside the handle) and the vibratory actuating mechanism (which is housed in the handle) are carried by a common plug but are independent of each other. The assembly of the parts is such that water or moisture is prevented from entering the handle or causing damage to the operating mechanism or short-circuiting the electrical elements.

And further, the terminal connector at the end of the conductor cord is frictionally and non-rotatively maintained in assembly with the end of the handle so that the interior structure cannot become disturbed by an attempt to rotate the connector. This is essential and the disclosed structure is designed to take strain off the terminal pins at the end of the handle.

My invention has numerous objects in view among which may be mentioned the provision of a vibratory safety razor that is compact in construction; is novel in the arrangement of its parts; is dependable in operation,

F urther obunderstandprefer to accarry out my and is durable in construction. jects will be apparent after an mg of my invention is had. I comp lish said objects, and to invention, in substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference bemg now made to. the accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is a' vertical longitudinal View of the actuating structure of my improved safety razor.

Figure 2 is an. elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 looking at the right side thereof and showing the handle or grip in section. 7

Figures 3 and 4 are views, on an enlarged scale, showingin detail the arrangement of a spring contact member in two positions of operation.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the lower end of the'handle showing the locking arrangement.

Figure 6 is an end view of the connector or plug that cooperates with the handle end structure.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal part shownin Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective of the retainer ring or friction band.

The drawings it will be understood are somewhat schematic for the purpose of illustrating a typical or preferred form in which my invention may be made, and in said drawings I have employed similar reference characters to designate like parts wherever they appear throughout the views.

The structure shown consists of an electromagnet core 10 forming the body of a spool that has upper and lower retaining flanges 11 and 12 between which there is an energizing winding 13 that has electrical connection at one end with core 10 in the usual manner. At the upper or outer end of the core there is a head or pole 14 that is suitably secured to the core in any manner. A substantially L-shaped bracket 15 is secured to the lower end of the core and has its vertical arm disposed along one side of the coil in the manner shown in order to support an armature bar 16 that is connected to the vertical arm by the flat spring 17. The spring and bar are of magnetic material and engage a pole piece 9 at the lower end of the coil and when the current is passing through said coil the armature bar will be attracted towards the upper pole piece 14:. 9

A substantially U-shape. yoke 18 is disposed with its parallel arms horizontal, and has one of saidarms secured to the pole piece 14. This yoke is made of non-magnetic material, and the portion that connects the arms 100 side view of the tween the arms of the latter.

afl'ords an. abutment against which a hammer 19 on the end of the armature will strike when the armature is vibrated. In order to cushion the impact of the hammer against the abutment a buffer or cushion 20 is preferably imbedded in the hammer so that a portion protrudes to strike the impact yoke be- As will be seen the arms of the abutment yoke'provide a space which accommodates the hammer 19 and thereby reduces the transverse dimensionsof the structure.

The vertical arm of bracket 15 carries a spring contact member 21 that is mounted so as to extend up 'upon the upright arm alongside the armature bar 16, and it is insulated from the arm by pieces of insulating material 22. i v

The spring member terminates at about midway the length of the coil where it carries a contact block 23. A readily yielding spring member 24 is mounted or anchored at its upper end on the armature bar 16 and extends down to the upper end of member 21 where it is provided with a contact block 25,

- while intermediate its ends this spring member is engaged with a headed pin 26 that acts both as a guide to prevent sidewise movement and as a stop to maintain the spring in the desireirelation to the coacting parts of the structure.

As seen in somewhat exaggerated detail in Figs. 3 and 4 the spring 24 in normal or rest' after the contact block 25 begins to separate at its upper edge from the opposing block 23 until only the lower corners are engaged. The final break between the blocks occurs at about the time the armature bar v16 reaches the limit of its movement towards the coil, and as this break is at the lower corners of the blocks 25 and 23 the liability of pitting the smooth surfaces of said blocks is practically eliminated, and the blocks are separated by a quick break-away. The blocks I are engaged while the armature bar is in a retracted position, and, on account of the above described arrangement, when the armature is attracted the blocks electrically disengage by a delayed or retarded breakaway. thus opening the electromagnetic energizing circuit.

The coil and the bracket are secured to a base 27 of insulating material, the horizontal arm of the bracket being inlaid in the adjacent surface of the base, and a pair of terminals 28 and 29, of irregular shape, passthrough the base, the terminal 28 being connected by a wire or conductor 30 to the energizing winding 13 and the terminal29 being connected by a conductor or wire 31 to the lower end of the=contact arm 21. The other end of the winding has the usual connection with the electromagnet core. The

terminals 28 and 29 pass out of thelower end i tubular handle or grip. In order to mount the unit within the handle I provide a threaded plug 32 to which the upper horizontal arm of the abutment yoke 18 is suitably connected. A tool-post33, of a design capable of removably receiving a tool-head or blade holder is imbedded in the upper or outer portion of the plug 32. The plug 32 is screwthreaded on its exterior and is adapted to be inserted and screwed part way' into the threaded upper portion of a tubular grip or handle 34 that is fabricated from bakelite or other insulating material. After the plug has been screwed the desired distance into the handle, a cone-shaped cap 35 is screwed upon the protruding portion of the plug in the manner shown in Figure 2.

At the lower end of the handle there is a shouldered portion 36, that is formed by reducing the bore of the handle or by inserting a threaded bored plug, and a central aper ture 37 is thus provided to accommodate the terminals 28-29 and to receive the socket structure or terminal connector 38 at the end of a lead-cord 39 containing the current conductors. When the parts are being assembled in the handle or grip the plug 32 carry-' ing the unit isscrewed into the end of the handle until the base 27 abuts the lower shoulder 36, thus maintaining the unit in the handle between the plug 32 and shoulder 36.

This construction and assembly permits the ready removal of the unit from the handle for the purpose'of inspection, replacement,

or repair.

A portion of the reduced bore of the central lower aperture 37 has longitudinal grooves 40 to receive one'or more (preferably two) spurs 41 projecting radially from the outer edge of a lock-ring 42 whereby the latter is maintained against accidental or intentional rotational movement. Whentwo spurs are used they are not placed diametrically parts may be modified as desired. The in ner periphery of the lock-ring has orie or f the connector 38 has more (preferably two) diametricall y pro ecting lugs 43, and the exterior lnward counterpart channels 44, extending longitudinally thereon. As the inner diameter of lock-ring 42 is sufficient to accommodate the connector, the latter may be inserted only when its channels 44 are registered with lugs 43, and that after insertion any attempt to rotate the connector is prevented by the spurs 41 engaged with the grooves 40.

After the operating unit has been inserted into the handle, the lock-ring is placed in position so that the plane of lugs 43 will intersect the plane in which the terminals 28 and 29 are disposed. The connector 38'is provided with a pair of tubular or socket terminals 45 arranged'in a plane intersected by the plane of the channels 44 and have the conductor Wires connected to their inner ends. The construction and disposition of the connector element and the coacting parts at the end of the handle are such that the lock ring may be set according to the position assumed by the terminals when the unit is inserted into the handle, and thereafter when the connector has been inserted the latter cannot rotate nor can it cause a rotation of the operating unit within the grip.

The exterior of the lower end of the grip is threaded and a cup-shaped cap 46, having a central opening, is screwed thereon, for the purpose of increasing friction with the connector I have interposed a split spring band or ring 47 between the inner face of the cap and the adjacent end of the handle. Said friction band is preferably of slightly less internal diameter than the outside diameter of the connector, so that the latter must be pushed through the band when being inserted. a

What I claim is r- ,1. A device of the character disclosed comprising an electromagnet core having an energizing winding, an armature vibrated by said electromagnet, an abutment impacted by said armature, a pair of terminals one of which is connected to said winding; an arm alongside said electromagnet and electrically connected to the other terminal, a contact block on said arm, a yielding arm carried by said armature, and a contact block on said yielding arm, the arrangement of said arms and blocks being such that the movement of the armature towards the electromagnet permits a delayed break between the blocks and a tilting of one of the blocks at the moment of break.

2. In a vibrator device a hollow handle having an apertured lower end, an electro-responsive unit within the. handle having terminals extended into the aperture, a lock-ring anchored in said aperture and having an inwardly extending projection, and a connector removably inserted in said aperture and having a longitudinal channel coacting with said projection to prevent axial rotation of said connector.

3. In a vibrator device a hollow handle having an aperturedlower end, an electro-responsive unit within the handle having terminals extended into the aperture, a lock-ring anchored in said aperture and having an inwardly extending projection, a connector removably inserted in said aperture and having a longitudinal channel coacting with said projection to prevent axial rotation of said connector, and a friction band adjacent said lock-ring through which said connector is inserted. v

4. A device of the character disclosedcomprising an electromagnet core, an energizing winding thereon, an abutment associated with one end of said electromagnet, a bracket at the opposite end of said electromagnet, a vibratory armature yieldably mounted on said bracket and actuated by said electromagnet to impact said abutment, a yieldable contact arm mounted on said bracket alongside said electromagn et, a yieldable bowed contact arm carried by said armature and having limited movement independent of the armature, the second arm extending towards and coacting with the other contact arm, and a pair of terminals electrically connected respectively to the first named contact arm and said winding.

5. A device of the character disclosed comprising an electromagnet core, an energizing winding thereon, an abutment associated with one end of said electromagnet, a bracket at the opposite end of said electromagnet, a vibratory armature yieldably mounted on said bracket and actuated by said electromagnet to impact said abutment, a yieldable contact arm extending alongside said electromagnet, a yieldable bowed contact car: ried by said armature and having limited movement independent of the armature, the second arm extending towards and enacting with the other contact arm, a pair of terminals electrically connected respectively to the first named contact arm and said winding, and members at opposite ends of said structure to which the adjacent portions thereof are connected.

6. A device of the character disclosed comprising a hollow handle, an electromagnet therein, a removable end plug connected said electromagnet, an abutment within said handle, a bracket remote to said abutment, an armature yieldably mounted on said bracket and vibrated by said electromagnet to impact said abutment, a yieldable contact arm alongside said electromagnet, a yielding bowed contact arm carried by said armature, and having limited movement independent of the armature, towards and coacting with said first-named contact arm, a base attached to the lower perthe second arm extending tion of the structure, and terminals carried by.

the base and connected to said winding and said first named contact arm.

7. A device of the character disclosed comprising a hollow handle, an electromagnet therein, a removable end plug connected to said electromagnet, an abutment within said handle, a bracket remote to said abutment, an armature yieldably mounted on said bracket and vibrated by said electromagnet to im- 1 pact said abutment, a yieldable contact arm alongside said electromagnet, a yielding bowed contact arm carried by said armature,

and having limited movement independent of the armature, the second arm extending to- Wards and coacting with said first-named contact arm, a base attached to the lower portion of the structure, terminals carried by the base and connected to said winding and said first named contact arm, and a shoulder at the lower end of said handle against which said base is engaged when the structure is inserted within the handle.

8. In a vibratory device a hollow handle having an apertured lower end, an electro responsive unit within the handle having terminals extended into the aperture, a lock ring anchored in said aperture, a connector removably inserted in said aperture, and tongue and groove elements on said two last named parts adapted to prevent relative rotational movement between the respective parts.

Signed at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois,

, the 29th day of October, 1929.

ARTHUR A. GROTHE. 

